ptornottobe

2 Posts
 
Posted - 02/10/2006 :  17:55:03  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi, I am a student who is interested in possibly pursuing the physical therapy profession. I am curious to know about the future job outlook for physical therapists. I am also curious to know what the salary range is for new physical therapists. Thank You.

MattPT

2 Posts
 
Posted - 02/11/2006 :  09:47:21  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Physical therapy is a great profession to get into right now. Our profession is gaining more autonomy as most schools have already or are transitioning to a doctorate in physical therapy program. The demand for physical therapists is great while the supply is low. This affords physical therapists quite an advantage in regards to pay and location of employment. According to the US Dept of Labor: "Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. The impact of proposed Federal legislation imposing limits on reimbursement for therapy services may adversely affect the short-term job outlook for physical therapists. However, over the long run, the demand for physical therapists should continue to rise as growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function spurs demand for therapy services. Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, rehabilitation, and orthopedic settings, because the elderly receive the most treatment in these settings. The growing elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. Also, the baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation. Further, young people will need physical therapy as technological advances save the lives of a larger proportion of newborns with severe birth defects.

Future medical developments also should permit a higher percentage of trauma victims to survive, creating additional demand for rehabilitative care. In addition, growth may result from advances in medical technology that could permit the treatment of more disabling conditions.

Widespread interest in health promotion also should increase demand for physical therapy services. A growing number of employers are using physical therapists to evaluate worksites, develop exercise programs, and teach safe work habits to employees in the hope of reducing injuries in the workplace."

As far as pay, check out www.salary.com. This is a great resource. Also take into consideration demand, sign on bonuses and benefits when examining your compensation package. From talking to fellow colleages the salary for an entry level PT could be from anywhere aroound $55,000-$63,000+ depending on job type and location.

ptornottobe

2 Posts
 
Posted - 02/11/2006 :  10:02:21  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Wow. Thanks for the info. I will definitely check out the PT field.